Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne: ‘I can’t have a Mickey Mouse Jeep’

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Speaking to reporters recently Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed what many have already guessed…that he wants Jeep to own the SUV market in Chrysler’s portfolio of automotive brands.

“Why would any brand (in the new Chrysler showrooms) but Jeep have an SUV?” he asked rhetorically, according to Edmunds Auto Observer.

“Jeep needs to define the SUV market market and it needs to own it,” he said.

Marchionne added that had he been in charge when the Duranago was being developed it would have been sold as a Jeep. “If I had been here,” Marchionne said, “the Durango would have been a Grand Wagoneer – which we will bring back to the marketplace.”

Marchionne went on to say that he believes every Jeep model should have a trail rated version even though many customers probably won’t use the Jeep’s full off-road ability. “Every car has to be able to offer a Trail-Rated version,” Marchionne said

“I can’t have a Mickey Mouse Jeep,” he added.

Finally speaking about the Jeep’s now dead Commander he called it “unfit for human consumption.”

Check out exclusive video preview of the 2011 complete line of jeeps below.

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